I just finished reading a devotional from She Reads Truth. And there were a few parts that really hit home for me. Especially today as Governor Walz announced he is extending Minnesota's stay-at-home order until May 4.
There are a lot of thoughts and opinions out on social media regarding our current situation and the actions we either are or aren't taking. I don't need to tell you that. People have things to say. Many believe they alone are right. Many people see this through a lens of "this is being taken away from me".
And this is where today's devotional felt timely.
As adults, there are things that we hold most dear. It varies for each person. "But when someone tries to lay a hand on our precious commodities, you better believe we can still throw a toddler-size tantrum. Our fists close tighter and tighter around the stuff that gives our lives meaning."
Are you feeling similar right now? Do you feel like the things in your life that give you so much meaning are being taken from you?
Maybe this is a clue that we've lost sight of the only one who can bring true meaning into our lives.
The devotion goes on to say that throughout the Bible, there are accounts were God asks people to loosen their grip for the sake of the gospel. One is the story of Abraham, asked to sacrifice his son. Another is Mary of Bethany who gives without being asked, anointing Jesus in perfume.
The question I found myself asking (myself) is do I struggle to hand over what I think gives me meaning, do I struggle to hand over a false idol, do I struggle to hand over whatever it is God is asking me to hand over? Or can I give freely? Ask yourself the same question. Do you have an easy answer?
"We must loosen our grip on earthly things and focus our eyes on heavenly things."
To me, this parallels what we're being asked to give up with this stay-at-home order, with businesses being closed, gatherings cancelled. It's hard to loosen that grip on the routine of our daily lives. It's hard to make such drastic changes and with such little time to prepare.
But just as God would ask "people to loosen their grip for the sake of the gospel", we are being asked to loosen our grip for the sake of others. We are being asked to trust our leaders, trust the experts. By staying home, by social distancing, by limited contact with others, we are savings lives. We are providing necessary time to allow additional resources to be found and prepared. We are making a difference. What is being asked of us is not easy and yes, there are consequences. But to me, those consequences have solutions that are easier to find than allowing thousands to die and our healthcare systems to be overrun.
What is that you're still trying to hold on to? What would it look like if you let it go temporarily? What happens when we take the time to remember that Jesus is the true meaning of our lives?
Remember, God gave up His own perfect Son as the Lamb on our behalf. My behalf. Your behalf. Rejoice and rest with that thought. And Trust in Him.
At the beginning of the year, I determined my Word of the Year was going to be Hope. You can read all about why I chose this word in my first blog post of the year. Even with that initial blog post, I'm not sure I had much conviction about why HOPE was my 2018 Word of the Year.
As I reflect back on this past year, I struggled to understand why HOPE was the my word. Why was I called to have that word surround me? What was the point? The meaning?
Especially as this past year, there were moments when I've never felt more hopeless. There were moments that hope seemed like the farthest thing possible. Instead there was pain and sadness and grief and anger. This past year was a year where a person I love decided to give up all hope.
It felt at times that my word was only taunting me. Reminding me of the things I lost, the things I'll never have. Dangling just out of my reach.
Until now. During this advent season. When I read an advent devotional*. Below are the words that spoke out to me.
In the midst of a world of fear, we can still keep the faith. In the midst of darkness, we can still know light. During a time of sorrow, we can still find joy.
All of this tells me that no matter how much hurt is in the world or in my heart, there can still be hope.
Without hope, we get stuck in this anger and it simply leaves a path of destruction in its wake. But when we hope, we also find the courage to act, to speak, to believe and even to wait.
At the top of the page in the devotional book, I circled the word HOPE in the title. Next to it I wrote "my 2018 word of the year, still don't know why" before reading the rest of the devotional.
And it was when I read this sentence: "All of this tells me that no matter how much hurt is in the world or in my heart, there can still be hope." that I thought - is this it? Is this why HOPE was my 2018 word of the year? That after all the very bad and the pain and sadness, there is STILL HOPE.
Maybe it truly is as simple as that. After a year of feeling hopeless, of grief, of anger, of pain, I can acknowledge that there is indeed still hope. Hope to keep going. Hope to keep loving. Hope for transformation. Hope in God.
In a lot of ways, it was not a great year. It was a hard year. But as I reflect now, I can see the moments of hope. I can understand how hope kept me going, even if I didn't realize that's what it was. And I can believe that hope will continue.
I sit in awe of the fact that God spoke this word of HOPE to me over a year ago. I'm glad I listened even when I didn't understand. And I'm grateful for the understanding now.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13
*For those wondering, the devotional came from Advent Devotional provided by my church, Christ the King Lutheran. Devotionals and messages were submitted by staff and members of the congregation. This devotional of hope? Well, it was written by Pastor Trish. Darn those mothers for always knowing what to say. :)
